Urges members to get behind today’s Canada-Wide Day of Action in support of Tim Hortons Ontario workers

The Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Labour (NLFL) issued a release this morning (Friday) throwing the full support of its 65,000 members behind minimum-wage workers in Ontario, who had benefits and paid breaks rolled back by employers.

Mary Shortall

As part of a Canada-wide day of action today, in support of Tim Hortons workers in Ontario, the NLFL is “urging our affiliates to sign a petition addressing Daniel Schwartz, CEO Restaurant Brands International Inc. (RBI) (parent company of Tim Hortons); as well as contacting the company directly via email, social media, or telephone.”

“The actions of these employers is nothing short of bullying,” said NLFL President Mary Shortall.

“It is one thing to voice opposition to an increase in the minimum wage, but to roll back the benefits and breaks of your minimum wage employees, to offset such an increase is absolutely outrageous coming from some of the wealthiest corporations in the country,” she said.

“Such actions demonstrate why workers need a stronger voice in their workplace to protect them this type of mistreatment.”

The NLFL will mount its own minimum wage campaign in the coming months, and will be looking for the Newfoundland and Labrador government to implement a strategy to get this province to a $15 minimum wage.

“We have one of the lowest minimum wage rates in the country, and over 30 per cent of all workers in our province earn less than $15 an hour,” Shortall said in the release.

“In addition, the majority of those workers are women.All workers deserve the right to earn a decent wage.”